Control mechanism for refrigerating systems



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Oct. 20, 1931. B. GATES 1,827,981

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS I Filed Oct. 15 192v I Attorney 38/ I Inventor Patented Get. 20, 193i BENJAMIN L. GATES, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO H.

LUELLA BEAMISH, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON CONTROL MECHANISM FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Application filed October 15, 1927. Serial No. 226,341.

My present invention relates to an improved refrigerating system of the type employing a liquid refrigerant and'means for circulating the refrigerant, and as especially 5 adapted for use in refrigerating cars for railroads.

In carrying out my invention the circulation of the refrigerant is accomplished while the railroad car is in motion through the inm strumentality of a pump that is actuated or driven through connectionswith' an axle of the car. While the car isnot in motion, as when on a siding, at a terminal, or in a switch yard, an electric motor is employed to operate the pump, the motor being connected up to the power line in the yard or terminal in the usual manner.

Means are provided for the alternate use of the vehicle actuated driving mechanism and the electric drive for the pump, and the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts involving the op eration of the circulation system, as will hereinafter be more fully pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the bestmode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. I

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the interior of a railroad car equipped with the refrigerating system of my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view with some parts in section showing the circulation pump of the reciprocating type, the driving mechanism therefor, and the clutch control for use of the alternate electric motor drive.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view as at line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view showing the control device for the clutch and combined therewith a circuit maker for the control of the electric motor when the latter is used to drive the pumping system.

Figure 5 is an exterior view showing the co-acting parts of the circuit maker.

Figure 6 is a plan view showing the coils for the refrigerant in the ceiling of the car,

.and Figure 7 is a view, as at line 77 of lates the liquid refrigerant through the coils, 4 in the top of the car and the end coils 5,

suitable provision being made at 4 in the top of the car for supplying the liquid refrigerant to the system of coils.

Under the carthe supply pipe 6 and the return pipe 7 for the coils are arranged, and

cut out valves.8 may be used whenever it is from the pump.

The supply and return pipes extend under the car and into the interior of a box or casing 9, supported on the underframing 10 of the railroad car, and the cylinder 11 of the reciprocating pump is located and properly supported within the box or casing.

The supply and return pipes 6 and 7 are connected at the same end of the pump cylinder and these pipes are provided respectively with check valves 12 and 13 opening away from and toward the cylinder to control the passage of the refrigerant as it is circulated through the coils by the pump.

Suitable cooling or condensing coils or other means may be located beneath the car, and included in the circulation system, for cooling the circulating refrigerant.

The pump is provided with the usual type of piston head 14: and stem 15, and the pitman 16 connected to the stem extends to and is pivotally connected with the driving crankgear 17 on the gear shaft 18 that is journaled, parallel with the axle 3, in the box or casing 9, bearings as 19 being employed for the shaft as usual.

While the car is in motion the pump may be operated from the rotating axle 3 which is equipped with a driving pulley 20 over necessary or desirable to cut out the coils which a cable 21 extends to the smaller pulley 22 that is fixed on a clutch shaft 23 j ournaled in bearings 24 parallel with the gear shaft and enclosed within the casing 9.

The clutch mechanism on the clutch shaft includes a pair of spaced clutch devices of which a stationary member in eachclutch as 25 and 26 is rigid with and rotates with the clutch shaft. A clutch sleeve 27, loose on the I 10 clutch shaft and adapted to'be slid or shifted nate, or selective.

The slide sleeve 27 is provided with a wide driving gear 30 that engages or meshes at all times with the gear 17 and transmits power to the pump from either the vehicle or car-drive or the motor drive. The clutch sleeve is also provided with the usual clutch spool 31, pivotedyoke 32, and clutch rod '33, the latter bein used, as by a pull to engage the mechanical (fi'ive, and by a push to engage the electric drive for the pump.

When the clutch rod is pushed to operate the pump by the electric motor, a normally open circuit maker is closed to cause operation of the motor and pump, and when the rod is'pulled to disengage the motor clutch, by the same movement the control circuit for the motor may be broken to stop the motor. For this urpose the clutch rod is provided with a s'ocl et head 34 that is slidably supported in a slide bearing-sleeve 35 formed integral with or attached to one of the walls of the box or casing'9. The end of the rod extends into thesocket head, which is loose on the rod,'and a collar 36 is fixed on the rod to prevent excess movement of the head. Within the socket the rodis fashioned with a circular head or end 37 and a spring 38 is interposed between the circular head and an end.

' flange 38 of the socket head.

, sulated contacts 43 and wires 44 that extend to the power line of a warehouse, terminal, or railroad yard. This slide head, through its contacts 43 makes contact with/the terminals 41 to close'the motor circuit and operate the motor-after the plug is turned tolocked position, and of course when the contacts and terminals are separated by reversing the turntherein, and locked thereto through the use of the bayonet slot 45 of the head and the lug 46 on the plug. Thus, when the plug is pushed into the hollow socket head from the positions of Figures 4 and 5, the plug and socket head are relatively moved or telescoped against the tension of the spring 38, the lug is entered in the bayonet slot and when the plug is turned the latter is locked by this bayonet joint in the socket head with the circuit closed. The same pushing movement on the slide plug may be imparted to the clutch rod to disconnect the mechanical drive (if that clutch is connected) and to connect the clutch for the motor drive and operate the refrigerating system.

The clutch rod 33 may be detained by any suitable means to hold the clutches in their respective operative positions.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a refrigerating system the combination with a machine, of a car-axle driving mechanism and an electric-motor drivin mechanism, a pair, of clutch devices an transmission-mechanism between the driving mechanisms and machine, an electric *circuit for the motor, a single control rod for the clutch devices, and a circuit maker operatively connected with said control rod for com trolling the motor.

2. The combination with a clutch device and a motor, of a clutch rod having a spring pressed socket head at its end and loose thereon, electric wires from said motor to said socket head, a push plug in the socket head having contact points for co-action with terminals of the electric wires, and means for locking the plug in the socket head whereby the rod may be pushed and the motor circuit closed.

3. The combination with a clutch device and a, motor, of a flanged clutch rod having a flanged socket-head loose thereon and a spring interposed between the flanged rod and flanged socket-head, electric wires for said motor to said socket head and terminals for ,the wires, a'push plug in the socket head hav ing normally open contact points forv co-action with terminals of theelectric wires, and co-acting means on the socket head and push plug, whereby the rod may be pushed and a motor circuit closed. a

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

BENJAMIN L. GATES.

ing movement of the plugthe circuit is broken.

' The slide; plug is normally held projected from the socket head, but may be pushed 

